Preliminary Evidence of Sleep Improvements Following Psilocybin Administration, and their Involvement in Antidepressant Therapeutic Action
Matthew J Reid, Hannes Kettner, Tessa F. Blanken, Brandon Weiss, Robin Carhartt-Harris
Current Psychiatry Reports November 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01539-8 (opens in new tab)
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Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review with preliminary data analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Intervention | Psilocybin |
| Topics | Depression Psilocybin |
| Keywords | Psilocybin therapy Poor sleep Depressive symptoms Adopt Psilocybin-assisted therapy Psychedelic medicine Sleep disorders insomnia Sleep quality Sleep patterns Depression mood disorders |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key findings | Sleep disturbances decreased after psilocybin use, but improvements were smaller than those for depressive symptoms, and baseline sleep severity was linked to lower depression remission rates. |
Abstract
Abstract Purpose of the study Psilocybin is a rapidly-emerging treatment for depression, yet its impact on sleep is not well understood. We sought to explore the literature on sleep and psilocybin use, and explore the topic using our own primary data. Findings Whilst clinical trials demonstrate large depressive symptom improvements, the impact of psilocybin on sleep quality or insomnia symptoms, has not been directly studied. Using our own preliminary-data we demonstrated that both depressive-symptoms and sleep-disturbances decreased significantly following psilocybin use, though sleep improvements were smaller compared to depressive symptoms. More severe sleep-disturbances at baseline were linked to lower probability of depression remission, underscoring a potential interaction between sleep and psilocybin’s efficacy. Summary Addressing sleep disturbances could enhance therapeutic outcomes in psilocybin-assisted therapy and could lead to more effective, personalized treatment-strategies. Future research should focus on populations with sleep disorders, and on examining causal-pathways of sleep physiology’s impact on psilocybin efficacy.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on psilocybin for depression, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic psychedelics: An integrative review of epidemiology, therapeutics, mystical experience, and brain network function. General population | 2019 | Integrative review | |
| Molecular Mechanisms of Psilocybin and Implications for the Treatment of Depression | 2021 | Review | |
| Registered clinical studies investigating psychedelic drugs for psychiatric disorders. Registered clinical trials on clinicaltrials.gov evaluating psychedelics for... | 2021 | Review | n = 70 |
| Depression, Mindfulness, and Psilocybin: Possible Complementary Effects of Mindfulness Meditation and Psilocybin in the Treatment of Depression. A Review | 2020 | Review | |
| From psychiatry to neurology: Psychedelics as prospective therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders | 2021 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- The Intersection of Psychedelics and Sleep: Exploring the Impacts on Sleep Architecture, Dream States, and Therapeutic Implications ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science May 15, 2025
- Intravenous Administration of Serotonergic Psychedelics Produce Short-lasting Changes in Sleep-Wake Behavior and High Gamma Functional Connectivity in Rats bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) October 14, 2025
- Effects of psilocybin on sleep quality and brain microstructure in chronic cluster headache. Journal of Psychopharmacology May 29, 2026
- From molecules to meaning: unpacking the antidepressant mechanisms of psychedelic drugs. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology June 11, 2025
Cites 13
- Effects of Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy on Major Depressive Disorder JAMA Psychiatry November 4, 2020
- The experimental effects of psilocybin on symptoms of anxiety and depression: A meta-analysis Psychiatry Research January 2, 2020
- Psychedelic Communitas: Intersubjective Experience During Psychedelic Group Sessions Predicts Enduring Changes in Psychological Wellbeing and Social Connectedness. Frontiers in Pharmacology March 25, 2021
- Pharmacokinetics of Escalating Doses of Oral Psilocybin in Healthy Adults Clinical Pharmacokinetics March 28, 2017
- Psychedelics, placebo effects, and set and setting: Insights from common factors theory of psychotherapy Transcultural Psychiatry January 26, 2021
and 8 more in the library